Settle retiring as OCHS principal after 40 years in education

May 15, 2023 | 12:07 am

Updated May 14, 2023 | 5:42 pm

Owensboro Catholic High School Principal Gates Settle is retiring at the end of this school year after 40 years in education. | Photo by Ryan Richardson

Gates Settle stepped into the role of an educator 40 years ago, but it began long before that. 

“My parents, Delbert and Gilda Settle, were lifelong educators who were my greatest influence on me deciding in the 7th grade that this is what I wanted to do,” he said.

The 2023 graduating class at Owensboro Catholic heard the principal’s last commencement speech on Sunday, and now Settle looks forward to not being the man on call “24/7.”

“It seems as if there is always something going on in a high school, and you have to try to be aware of all those things and what problems go with them,” Settle said. 

Prior to being the principal at OCHS, Settle has served as Daviess County Middle School’s principal, as assistant principal at Daviess County High School, and as a teacher and a coach at McLean County High School.

No longer having to deal with school demands and being on a schedule, Settle plans to spend more time with his family and play more golf. 

However, he isn’t leaving education altogether because he will work part-time at OCHS to assist in various roles.

Speaking on the role of a school beyond the classroom, Settle said there has never been a more difficult time to be a teen, as students seemed to be pulled in many directions with academics, extracurricular activities, and work. 

“This, along with COVID, has increased their stress and the challenge of dealing with just being a teen,” he said. “Social media has also contributed greatly to teen challenges and why mental health issues for teens have increased dramatically in our country.”

Settle also reflected on how technology has changed in classrooms — saying that while it has improved and changed how schools operate and teach, he thinks there is overemphasis on the importance of technology.

“Good teachers and good instruction have been – and will always be – the most important factor in the classroom, and technology has just provided some more options for teachers to use, but it is not the end-all-be-all for instruction to increase achievement in schools,” he said. 

Settle said that over this past year, he has enjoyed seeing their excitement in the “return to normal” and all of the senior activities that happen at OCHS.

“I think they have a deeper appreciation for not taking things for granted and are so appreciative of getting their senior year,” he said. 

Settle added that he’s also enjoyed the daily Faith reinforcement throughout his years at the helm of OCHS.

“The school environment is like nowhere else,” he said. “The spirit and all-in attitude of the students, staff, and Catholic community just creates something that is hard to explain unless you’re here. I will miss not greeting every one of them in the morning, but my last retreats, pep rallies, Masses and Day of Recollection with them will stay with me.

Looking back, Settle said that he has been grateful for all of the people and schools he has worked in, but his position at OCHS was “a blessing.”

“It was the best professional decision I ever made, and I hope that we have just built on what was already a great place,” Settle said. “I can only hope the Catholic has benefited half as much as I have from being here.”

May 15, 2023 | 12:07 am

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